Cup betting...Rakti eases, Lucia firms

Admire Rakti has eased as favourite from $4.60 to $4.80 for ‘The Race That Stops a Nation’ since the barrier draw after being $4 for the majority of betting after his dominant win in the Caulfield Cup, reports TAB.

Lucia Valentina firmed from $7 into $6.50 after drawing ideally in barrier two and remains one of the most popular runners today.

Protectionist is sharing the third line of betting with Signoff at $7.50 with the Lexus Stakes victor drifting from $7 after receiving gate 16.

One punter seemed happy enough with the German horse starting from barrier 11 and placed $9,000 at $7.50 straight afterwards.

The Signoff fan that had $3,000 at $51 on Monday is feeling good as the Darren Weir-trained gelding attempts to emulate the feats of Brew and Shocking and complete the Lexus Stakes-Melbourne Cup Double.

Cox Plate runner-up Fawkner is the other galloper in single figures at $9 and is still well regarded.

Mutual Regard has tightened from $14 into $12 since the barrier draw with one punter outlaying $3,000 at $14 today while Who Shot Thebarman ($26 into $21) and My Ambivalent ($51 into $41) also have their admirers at longer odds.